“Conductor Christian Reif has been named resident conductor of the San Francisco Symphony and music director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra beginning in September,” reports Joshua Kosman in Tuesday’s (2/23) San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required). “Reif, a 26-year-old German, comes to San Francisco with a record of experience in Europe and the United States, including two seasons as a conducting fellow with Michael Tilson Thomas at the New World Symphony in Miami. The double-barreled position entails serving as an assistant to Thomas and various guest conductors as well as conducting the orchestra’s family concerts. He will also oversee all of the Youth Orchestra’s musical efforts. Reif made his Symphony debut in September, conducting the West Coast premiere of Ted Hearne’s ‘Dispatches.’ This summer he is slated to lead the U.S. premiere of Kaija Saariaho’s ‘Only the Sound Remains’ at the Ojai Music Festival. Reif will succeed Donato Cabrera, who is stepping down at the end of this season after seven years on the job. Cabrera is music director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and of the California Symphony in Walnut Creek.”
Posted February 24, 2016
